Beginner Price Comparison

[WatchUrSix]

So I've been looking around for sites that reflect an accurate market price for bourbon. I have found the following site http://whiskey.underthelabel.com/ and I'm wondering what you all use to find the right price.

 

I know some of you might already know what you're looking for, and you know what you're willing to pay for it. However, in the current bourbon market, prices vary quite a bit from store to store.

 

I found BT for 19.99 at one store, and at the next they had it marked up to 31.99. I know the better deal here, but I wouldn't have known, without first seeing it at another store for more. 

I found BSB for 80$ and talked him down to 70, which I think I'm going to buy tomorrow. I'm on call for work and didn't have the time to pick it up today. 

Still debating the CEHT Small Batch for 60$.

I found ER10 for 40$ a bottle which might be a little much, but I'm glad i picked it up. What a great bourbon.

 

So the question here is how do you know, and what do you use as a reference for prices. The store I have found is in a run down part of town, and has a great selection but prices seem to be anywhere from 10 to 20 over the sites listed prices.  

 

How do you all feel and how much over are you willing to pay? I understand this might come down to personal preference, but for someone starting out, it's hard to know where to start and when to walk away.

 

Thanks for any advice you guys offer.

 

Joe

 

 

Edited September 16, 2016 by WatchUrSix

[MOwhisky4me]

Prices vary due to a lot of factors... Location, availability, demand, store owner, etc... I believe experience is the best answer to most of your questions. The only way I was able to really get a good idea of what was really a good deal for my area and what wasn't was to hit a lot of shops and stores and take notes. I found the best deals are spread out here and there... One store might have the best price on some stuff but be a lot higher on something else, and then another place has a much better price on a few other things. There is just no substitute for getting out there and doing your own looking.

[miller542]

Sounds like all are just a little high.  Where is Inman?

 

Control states are a good benchmark and usually have published price books.

 

Type the name of what you're looking for in the "Item Name" field at this link: http://www.webapps2.abc.utah.gov/Production/OnlineInventoryQuery/IQ/InventoryQuery.aspx

 

This is what Utah charges.  Not the cheapest around, but no gouging either.  You can also find the Ohio price book online, I'm too lazy to dig up the link.

 

You can also shop online at The Party Source and see what they're charging, normally they're about the cheapest anywhere in the US.  http://thepartysource.com/spirits/bourbon

 

Edited September 16, 2016 by miller542

[MeAndMyWhiskey]

In Michigan there is a minimum price established by the State. It can be accessed on the website of the Liquor Control Commission. Between that, Party Source, and Total Wine, I usually figure I have a good idea of price ranges. Of course, in my home state, I'm stuck with what the State says I must pay. But when I'm in KY or a Total Wine state, I can look for deals.

[WatchUrSix]

Inman, SC. All his prices are higher, but he's the only one around with the selection. Everyone else around is out of most things from BT. I've checked most places from Asheville, NC down to Greenville, SC and Spartanburg,SC. This place has what everyone has been out of. I've looked into ordering from site, but either they were out or didn't ship to 

Edited September 17, 2016 by WatchUrSix

[Wedelstaedt]

3 hours ago, WatchUrSix said:

Inman, SC. All his prices are higher, but he's the only one around with the selection. Everyone else around is out of most things from BT. I've checked most places from Asheville, NC down to Greenville, SC and Spartanburg,SC. This place has what everyone has been out of. I've looked into ordering from site, but either they were out or didn't ship to 

Probably, why the store still had the BT products and ,the other stores don't have , is because of his prices. 

[WatchUrSix]

I was able to find the NC retail price list and some of them are within 10$ of his prices. To some this may be too much. For me just starting out, this really isn't that bad considering no one else has BT products in my area.

Example: ER10 in NC, retail is 33.95 max 37.70.

So the 41.80 i paid wasn't that bad. At least not what I would consider a rip off, since no one else has it.

The CEHT however is about 20$ overpriced, and I won't be buying that.

Thanks for the control state suggestions, this gives me a great benchmark for future buys.

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Edited September 17, 2016 by WatchUrSix

[Swoboda]

I always check wine-searcher.com  . . . in addition to wine, they cover spirits pricing in the U.S. and abroad.  Cheers!  Wally

[JoeTerp]

My point of reference is the VA ABC price list. I'm usually in VA so that's my option unless I'm traveling somewhere. 

[Flyfish]

Prices vary widely. Sometimes I hesitate to pull the trigger because I know I can get it way cheaper someplace I will be traveling to. I know stores in FL and AZ, for example, where I can stock up on handles of WT101 for a couple bucks more than the Ohio price for 750s. And another thing, the OH Official Liquor Gods website used to publish prices. Sometime this year, the prices just disappeared. All you can find out is the location of a store that might  have what you're looking for. That is, they may be permitted to sell it but that does not mean they will actually have it. In other words, the website is now pretty much useless. 

Sometimes a little knowledge can be dangerous. If you like ER10 for $40, you'll probably love it for $26.99. (How's that make you feel?) If you can talk somebody into reducing the price of BSB by $10, you are not living in a place where the state gets to decide how much you want to pay. With a little experience, you can determine what seems to be a reasonable price for the bourbons you like. 

[PaulO]

14 hours ago, Wedelstaedt said:

Probably, why the store still had the BT products and ,the other stores don't have , is because of his prices. 

Yeah, talk to some of the other stores in your area with better prices on the items they do have.  They may get the BT products, but sell out fast.  The availabilty of those items can be very regional and sporadic.  

[Darwin]

Under the label is a good aggregator of reviews and the prices seem to be an accurate average.  Another good site is Wine-Searcher.  In Arizona TW&M has the best prices, usually a few dollars to as much as $35 cheaper than BevMo.  

http://www.wine-searcher.com/find/buffalo+trace

[Flyfish]

I agree about the Total Wines prices in AZ. Sort of. In my experience, they have fantastic prices on bourbon that is always "temporarily out of stock." It seems to me that, when they don't have it, they should sell it for 10 cents.

[WatchUrSix]

Found a bottle of OWA in NC for 27$. Still hunting that 12year.

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[Thig]

Found a bottle of OWA in NC for 27$. Still hunting that 12year.

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Interesting, we have the 12 year but no Antique. In my opinion you have the better of the two.

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[Flyfish]

Six, it may be a worthwhile exercise to try a blind tasting. Have someone pour you equal amounts of 4 or so bourbons. The object is not to guess what you are drinking but to rank them. After the reveal, you can determine what the relative "value" is for the bourbons you tasted. You might even save some money by discovering that you like the less expensive more than the more expensive. Maybe not. At least the blind tasting helps prevent you from liking what you think you should like instead of what you really like. 

[squire]

3 hours ago, Flyfish said:

Six, it may be a worthwhile exercise to try a blind tasting. . . . You might even save some money by discovering that you like the less expensive more than the more expensive. Maybe not. At least the blind tasting helps prevent you from liking what you think you should like instead of what you really like. 

I believe this is the best approach.  Blind tasting reveals what we really like in flavor, profile and age and once those parameters are established the rest is comparison shopping.

[GeeTen]

Hey WatchUrSix - there's a Total Wine & More just down the road a piece from you in Greenville, SC.   You can get on their website (make sure you designate Greenville, SC as your preferred store) for a price comparison check, even though they may be out of stock at the moment.  

 

I try to go in and say "hi" every time we go see my brother-in-law and his family in Brevard, NC.  We fly into Greenville/Spartansburg (instead of Charlotte) and drive up into the mountains.  HTH.     

[Hop]

Sent you a PM for a couple of places to try based on where you are located - those prices seem high to me based on what I see in SC

[Hop]

Tried to send up a PM - you can't get them yet I guess

 

Hey

 

I'm in NC but am pretty familiar with the area you are in.  Go by and see Bucky at Green's Piney Grove location (this is actually Frugal McDougals but the name on the building is Greens), he knows what he's talking about and they usually have some barrel picks.  Also there is a Costco in Greenville that you can hit and I don't think you have to be a member to buy liquor, there's a Total Wine and More just down the road from there as well.  There's also a Total Wine in Columbia off Harbison.  Also try Greens by USC in Columbia they have some barrel selections too and prices aren't bad.

 

Worst case try coming over the border up I26 into NC and hitting a couple of stores - BT is hard to find but not impossible

 

Happy Hunting

 

Hop

[berto]

Wine searcher and 1000corks will give you nationwide listings.  Your local price may be higher or lower than what you find online.  I use a large local retailer as my benchmark.  If I find significant savings online and can fill out an order for 2-6 bottles I do it.  Convenience means I'll pay more in the moment if I'm at a different shop.  

[Flyfish]

On 9/17/2016 at 3:55 PM, Darwin said:

Under the label is a good aggregator of reviews and the prices seem to be an accurate average.  Another good site is Wine-Searcher.  In Arizona TW&M has the best prices, usually a few dollars to as much as $35 cheaper than BevMo.  

http://www.wine-searcher.com/find/buffalo+trace

What I love is that they can afford to ship BT across the Atlantic and still sell if for $5 less than shipping it all the way across the river to Ohio.